Category: General

Apologizing and being sorry are quite different, yet used as if they were the same.

I make mistakes, lots of them. I do things that inconvenience others and things that are perceived as not nice words or actions. We all do.

There are lots of ways to respond these days (in person, email, phone, text) and there are generally two phrases used in setting the situation right in your mind.

I’ve seen both and have to say, there is a very notable difference (to me) when someone takes the time to say “I’m sorry” versus someone that says “I apologize”. Maybe I’m just being oversensitive to this one, but seriously, it is a lot harder to say that you are sorryandmean what you are saying than it is to “apologize”.

The delivery vehicle is just as important and highlights the good or bad of the words chosen.

Walking up to a person or calling them on the phone and saying to them “I’m sorry that what I did cause problems for you…” takes a lot more effort and sincerity than sending an email or text that reads, “My apologies for any inconvenience that causes…”.

Most importantly, if you are not sorry, don’t apologize!

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This morning I awoke with a vision of a floating box, self-guided and powered by a micro-propulsion engine. Weird for sure, but it was worth writing down and exploring.

The end result…

EVERYTHING changes when this box shows its face!

The world will change forever and can happen anytime, when this micro propulsion system is finally unveiled.

When someone and their big brain combines magnetism, steam, electricity and solar power to create a tiny power plant capable of making a shoebox (or any sized container for that matter) float and move.

When this shoebox is given its own brain that can use cellular technology, gps, sonar and other guidance systems.

Envision boxes, cartons, barges and containers of anything and everything, traveling the world with complete self-sufficiency, no chance of contact with other vessels and ultimate free delivery to any cross-point of latitude and longitude on the globe.

It ALL changes!

For sure it could be done today. Though I am no physicist or engineer, I’ve no doubt that it is possible if not already completed. What changes then? A few examples…

Global delivery companies go away (Fedex, UPS, etc)

Entire industries are no longer needed (Trucking, Rail, Shipping)

The need for oil is forever gone and thus the wars over oil are moot

Automotive and airline manufacturing ceases

All of the tax revenue generated by these industries is gone, further crippling governments and economies

All of the jobs lost cause global panic plus the lost income tax revenue

Economies, cultures and civilization as we know it implodes

But it’s the right thing to do for the world!!

The negative impact is mostly financial in nature and therefore the realization of this depends on a solution to offset the financial loss. Clearly there would be pain, suffering, loss and even death as a result of the financial impact, however… Some of the POSITIVE gains…

Ability to reach and deliver food, medicine, supplies, etc. to anyone in the world at any location

Mindset shift to focus on improving rather than maintaining dependence

Comprehension of LESS being more sustainable than MORE and really not that bad anyway

How do we as a global community then live? What happens to the millions now unemployed around the world, many of whom do not know how to do anything else. How can the government continue with limited tax revenue coming in and more dependents to care for?

It’s all very Darwinian even with respect to the current culture and government in developed counties where consumption and increased demand has been a driving force. When (not if) countries and governments have millions less jobs, major industries wiped out, significantly less tax revenue, free and renewable energy, free global delivery reach and no future need for oil it becomes a survival of the fittest era.

Sitting in Europe, surrounded by medieval castles, history and experiences makes me think that such a chaotic event would force a reverse into a similar mindset.

This IS going to happen and isn’t a WHAT IF, it is only a matter of time. When that first shoebox floats, where will you be, what will you be capable of and how prepared will you be? The long term end result is a possible saving grace for mankind, the short-term affects are astounding and painful. We were fortunate enough to have been given a glimpse of this in 2008/2009, yet the result wasn’t sufficient due to weak hands up top, we are seeing the continuation of that now.

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I’m looking for a VP of Business Development to grow a profitable business unit into a million dollar business division of VoIP Supply, LLC.

Ricky Bobby

If you’ve read any of my stuff, then you know I’m always looking to find/grow intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs. I’ve also written about some personal experiences of taking on too much or not delegating often enough. Well here is an opportunity to address both of these and I’m certain that I will find the right person for the job, through this medium or another. It’s not an ‘if’ as much as a ‘when’, so if you think you have what it takes or know someone that might fit the bill, please send the information my way.

Below is a little bit of information about the business unit, the mission, its objectives and the competencies required to be successful. The right person doesn’t just exhibit some of these competencies, they demonstrate all of them, are known for having them and have used them to produce a track record that speaks to their talents. These sorts of opportunities don’t pop up very often in my opinion, certainly not in the shallow tech pool of Buffalo NY.

The key is in the ignition, the engine is running and I need the right driver to stomp on the gas. What was Ricky Bobby’s answer to the question, “Who wants to go fast?”

VP of Business Development: Seeking an experienced professional to build and grow an existing and profitable prototype into a highly profitable, million dollar division of VoIP Supply, LLC. We have proven the ability to generate sufficient volume of product and exceptional demand from global customers since November 2010. The growth of this unit requires dedicated leadership and a small team telephone based associates; with such, our mission is easily attainable.

Mission: Grow an existing, profitable business prototype into a million dollar enterprise that generates a consistent flow of high margin revenue.

Outcomes:

Grow business to a minimum of 25 units/day.

Hire, train and manage enough team members to complete this mission (1-3)

Ensure 100% of the products generated are sold for their maximum value to 3-5 customers.

Persistence: Demonstrates the required drive and dedication to complete the mission

Proactive: Acts independently without being told what to do

Ability to hire ‘A’ players: Understands and sources only ‘A’ players for their team, using best practices and our core values as guides

Enthusiasm: Leads by example exuding passion, excitement and a positive attitude about the mission and results

Work ethic: Works hard consistently and sometimes for long hours; has a track record of hard work

High standards: Expects performance and results of self and team to be nothing short of the best

Sounds pretty easy, right?

Send me your resume or pass this along to those you know that can take on a challenge and exceed expectations in the business world.

Prove Yourself !!

Prove yourself worthy of this challenge: This is a big opportunity and a chance to not only prove yourself, but also to start a career path within our holding company and all that it will be involved in over time. The interview process won’t start without some knowledge above and beyond what is listed on a resume. Please, if you think you can do it, answer these questions and produce the deliverables as requested (email me). The product in this case is information about a business or individual. The customers are existing businesses that purchase this information on a daily basis, typically as much of it as possible.

Build and explain the financial model (spreadsheet and narrative) to support your plan, including costs, revenue and profits, people and operating expenses/components

Average product value = $40

Each product can be sold to 3-5 customers, no more than 5

Your budget will be roughly 20% of the gross revenue and must cover all expenses including your payroll, benefits, etc.

Each associate can generate between 5-15 products per day

Once up and running, your box consists of you and a small team calling people to generate the product.

Will you find additional sources to generate products and thereby prove your proactive ability to exceed the goals of the mission?

If so, how and why?

What are your core values and how do they impact your life?

What does your life look like five years from now?

What makes you qualified to be given this opportunity?

What have you done to validate this qualification?

Did you create the plans and manage them or did you execute an existing plan?

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Today my father shared a document with me, following up on a conversation we had about my Uncle’s retirement party. In turn, I’m sharing it with you. My uncle Blair was one of the presidents of Davey Tree overseeing much of their Canadian business. He got to his position by working hard and working smart, not by inheritance, luck or circumstance. Considering where he started and where he ended up, using the two free tools he had (work ethic and common sense), his retirement was appropriately celebrated by many. During the various speeches, the CEO of Davey Tree took his turn and handed over a framed document that Blair had given to him more than twenty years prior. In doing to, it was clear that the document had a significant impact on the CEO and like the giver himself, it was inspirational. After the celebration, my uncle reminded my father that he (my dad) had actually given the document to Blaire more than 20 years ago as well. These two men, my father and uncle, are two of the most inspirational people I’ve had in my life and my parents are those that I have to thank for my own work ethic, drive and common sense. The facts and lessons below are simple and powerful. Enjoy.

Leadership Lessons from Geese

Author: By Robert McNeish, former Assoc. Superintendent of Baltimore Public Schools, 1972

Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.Lesson: We need to make sure honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

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Yes, seriously, a free iPad for the best Entrepreneurial idea/plan! The 3G one too, not just WiFi.

There are conditions of course, it’s a contest and not a sweepstakes. The prize is a 3G iPad with 18 months of service and any business assistance I can give (within reason). If I get a good response I’ll make sure it shows up for the holidays! Who knows, if I get more than one awesome idea, there may well be more than one prize – it’s happened before.

In working with the kids and staff on starting, building and running a business, I was thinking that it would be really cool to see how many ideas we could all come up with. I spend a lot of time kicking ideas around and have found my iPad pretty useful for doing so with the various applications for project management, financial calculations, flow charting, drawings and collaboration. I have to imagine the same is true of similar minds. If you don’t participate then you lose and I’ll win my own iPad 🙂 or just save the money.

What I wanted to find out is, what are the best ideas for businesses that are conceptualized, planned, started, built and run with no other in-house technology besides iPads. This does NOT exclude cloud computing for various purposes, but the business and its offices have no other technology at the desktop besides the iPad. No desktops, no servers, no Ethernet, no fax machines or phones, copiers, printers or anything along the same lines.

Ideas are great but don’t go anywhere without a plan. The best idea wins yet must come with a plan to succeed and ideally the drive to carry forward with the idea. I’d love to help make it happen for someone who really gets it and may just need some encouragement and help.

Privacy notice: You have my word that your ideas are safe and won’t be shared nor would I run with them unless you were at the helm. I can offer a lot of assistance to the right person with the right idea. Since you probably don’t know me nor my word, feel free to ask around, I’m sure you’ll find it as you should.

If you know someone with the moxy and the need for a iPad, send them here for me please. Thanks.

You can post your response, send it through the contact page or email me directly (probably best). My email here is me@ my domain. Call me if you want, but you still have to submit it in writing.